The Hillels of Georgia Weekly Chai-Lights Reel
ISSUE NO. 09 | VOL. 2026
As we continue to grow and strengthen Jewish life across Georgia, save the date for the Grand Opening of Georgia Tech’s new Hillel space on Sunday, October 26 at 12:30 PM: a milestone worth celebrating!
Creating Art + Community at KSU Hillel's Tie Dye Social Night
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The Georgia Tech Jewish community came together to honor the victims of the October 7th attacks and advocate for the return of the hostages. Members of Hillel and Students Supporting Israel (SSI) spent the afternoon tabling on campus, sharing stories, handing out flowers, cookies, and coffee, and engaging with over 40 members of the Georgia Tech Community. The day concluded with a powerful memorial ceremony with over 250 students in attendance. At the event, students shared personal reflections, remembered loved ones (like Dekel Swissa, who had spent time in Atlanta prior to joining the IDF), and prayed together for peace and healing.
The Tie Dye Social Night at KSU Hillel,brought students together for a relaxing evening of creativity and connection. Along with taking home their own custom T-shirts, several students chose to leave behind tie-dyed challah covers that will be used for upcoming Hillel programs: a colorful reminder of the community they’re helping to build!
Choosing Life: Nova Festival Natalie Sanandaji Shares Her Story with Hillel UGA Students
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This week, Hillel at UGA hosted Natalie Sanandaji, an impressive young New Yorker and public affairs officer for the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), who shared her harrowing experience surviving the Nova music festival massacre. Natalie described the impossible choice she faced on October 7 - whether to stay hidden or keep moving - and how that instinctive decision to run ultimately saved her life.
What made the evening especially profound was the presence of Hershel Greenblat, a Holocaust survivor and representative from the Breman Museum, who had previously met Natalie on March of the Living. The two shared that although their traumas occurred generations apart, the defining moment of instinct -the split-second choice to run and choose life - mirrored one another across time, history, and lived trauma.
What most moved our student guests was not just her survival, but the way Natalie has turned tragedy into impact through advocacy and storytelling. Her resilience, clarity, and courage made her feel deeply relatable to students, many of whom said they could imagine themselves or their friends in her place. For students who recently participated in the Maccabee Task Force Israel trip, the story was especially powerful as the sites she described were the very places they had stood just weeks ago.
GT Hillel Students Connect with Supporters Ahead of Grand Opening
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Hillel at Georgia Tech students kicked off their first Phone-a-Thon of the school year, reaching out to alumni, parents, and community supporters to share gratitude and invite them to continue investing in Jewish life on campus. These student-to-supporter conversations don’t just raise funds; they deepen relationships across generations and ensure that the programs students love can keep growing.
After the calls wrapped, everyone came together for a relaxed watch party of the season premiere of Nobody Wants This, turning a night of outreach into a night of community and connection
Alumni & Deeproots Shabbat Connects Georgia College Hillel Students, both Past and Present
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Georgia College Hillel welcomed both current students and a few returning alumni for a special Deeproots Shabbat. Guests enjoyed festive Mexican food catering and a creative “Tree of Life” activity where students shared their favorite Hillel memories: a beautiful reminder that the connections built here continue long after graduation!
Georgia State Hillel Bagel Break Keeps Tradition for Our Students
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At Georgia State, Bagel Break continues to be a reliable weekly touchpoint for commuter students who are constantly on the move. Between classes and jobs, students don’t always have time to seek out community, so Hillel at Georgia State brings the community to them. A quick stop for a bagel becomes a moment to catch their breath, see familiar faces, and feel connected before heading back into their busy day!
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